Fox Wars

And you thought Europe, immigration and Jeremy Paxman’s beard were divisive issues. Turns out the urban fox splits our great nation straight down the middle, as this 45-minute documentary on BBC1 reveals.

The extreme reactions provoked by the 33,000 foxes currently prowling the UK are neatly displayed by two women. One prepares a veritable feast for the scavenging bastards nightly and scatters it on her lawn. Another is so determined to stop the innocent darlings that she wishes to introduce one to electricity. ‘I’ll put 20,000 volts through it if needs be. I’ll fry it,’ are her exact words, before she adds, with a smile, ‘Never cross a Welsh woman at the end of her tether.’ The tone is soft and even-handed. Crucially though, the extremes of fox hugging and fox hating are allowed to shine through.

Among them, a pest controller uncannily reminiscent of Bill Murray in ‘Caddyshack’ – firearms and all – and a shirtless Londoner who feeds them dog biscuits. Don’t even think about accepting a dinner party invitation without getting your fox views locked down. This very watchable show will help you immensely.